The name Thomas is derived from the Hebrew word Teʾoma, meaning “twin.” The word Twin translates the Greek word “Didymus,” which has the same meaning. Though there is some doubt whether Thomas, in its Hebrew or Aramaic form, was ever used as a proper name, Didymus evidently had wide use as such in Greek circles. Two other times in John’s Gospel (20.24; 21.2) Thomas is described as “the one called the Twin.” Elsewhere in the New Testament Thomas is mentioned only in lists of the apostles (Matthew 10.3; Mark 3.18; Luke 6.15; and Acts 1.13). Besides the passages already mentioned, Thomas appears also in John’s Gospel in 14.5 and 20.24-29.

Thomas (called the Twin) may be translated in some languages as “Thomas, whose nickname was Twin” or “Thomas, also called Twin.” However, in some languages it is important to distinguish between the older and younger twin that is, according to the order of their birth. There is no way on the basis of the Greek text to make this distinction, but in some languages one must choose one term or the other.

The word translated fellow disciples (so most other modern translations) is found only here in the New Testament. His fellow disciples may be translated “the rest of the disciples” or “those who were also disciples with him.”

Let us all go along with the Teacher, so that we may die with him is literally “Let us also go, that we may die with him” (Revised Standard Version). The problem is of a literal rendering, in which the participants are not specifically marked, is that a serious ambiguity may result. That is, the phrase with him could possibly be taken as a reference to Lazarus, who in verse 15 is referred to by with him and to him. Here Good News Translation makes it explicit that the disciples are intending to accompany Jesus so that they may die with him. Good News Translation refers to Jesus by the title Teacher in this verse because this title is the one by which the disciples address him in verse 8. However, since they address him as Lord in verse 12, it is also possible in translating to introduce “Lord” here instead of Teacher. As in other contexts, a first person plural admonition may be translated “We should all go along with the Teacher” or “… with our Teacher.”

This verse introduces for the first time in John’s Gospel the theme that the destiny of the disciples must be the same as that of their Lord, a theme further developed in the farewell discourses of Chapters 15-17.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .